JANE KELLEY: We dumped Nixon after the first debate

Fifty-five years ago, my husband and I were campaigning for Richard Nixon, until we saw the first Nixon-Kennedy debate, after which, my husband and I went out to our car, ripped off the Nixon stickers and replaced them with ‘Kennedy for President.

By Jane Cronin Kelley

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jane Cronin Kelley

Posted Nov. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 22, 2013 at 10:05 PM

By Jane Cronin Kelley

Posted Nov. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 22, 2013 at 10:05 PM

» Social News

Fifty-five years ago, my husband and I were campaigning for Richard Nixon, until we saw the first Nixon-Kennedy debate, after which, my husband and I went out to our car, ripped off the Nixon stickers and replaced them with ‘Kennedy for President.'
Since that day my life has been inexplicably connected to John Kennedy. Of course, I fell in love with him, as did millions of others who lived in Boston, shared his Irish roots, and his Catholic faith. When he died, my husband and I wept and felt that our world would never be the same.
Fast forward, fifteen years later. My husband died leaving me a widow with five children. I was a volunteer with the newly formed ‘Boston by Foot’ at the time, and one of the guides recommended that I interview for a volunteer job at the Kennedy Li brary, which I did, and was hired as a docent. After learning even more about my beloved presi dent, I blissfully introduced the public to his film and museum.
Some months later the library introduced the prospect of allowing the public the use of the pavilion for non-profit and company events. The program grew like Topsy and help was needed to orchestrate and facilitate the fast moving schedule and plan ning of the newly formed events department. I was asked to assist in the operation and, in time, became the head of the department. Imagine going to work every day to a place so venerated by me and held in such high esteem, that I had to pinch my self to be reminded that I was really working at the John F. Kennedy Library.
The joy I felt in my job (if you want to call it that) was immense and somewhat overpowering, but I had to get over that fast. During my years at the library, the wonderful staff I worked with, plus the many no tables I saw up close and per sonal; Mandela, Henry Kissinger, Bill Clinton, John Williams, Yo Yo Ma, Gor bachev, Eduard Shervardnadze, Opera Star Roberta Peters, Rosemary Clooney, Karen Ak ers (Singer), Alicia Delarose (Pianist, who announced she would never play piano in “that pavilion” again!) Of course there was ‘Jackie’ who was loved and admired by all, and our beloved Dave Powers, the epitome of a good friend, who went to his grave with so many stories of JFK he would never reveal. Oh, I could go on and on with names and times of the rich and famous from near and far who enhanced my life.
In 1987 I was introduced to my future husband through a contact made at the library. It turned out that the Hon. Richard S. Kelley managed John Kennedy’s campaign in Somerville when he ran for the Senate. So my contact with John Kennedy spans about fifty plus years and I feel as though I knew him as a friend; and every morn ing when I drove that beautiful road leading up to the library, I imagined John Kennedy smiling and enjoying every moment of the ride right along with me.”
Jane Cronin Kelley is from Braintree.